US Army Calls For A DAPL Reroute; Standing Rock Victory

[Spidey Revivey]

"The Department of the Army will not approve an easement that would allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe in North Dakota," said a statement on the US Army website, citing the Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy.

According to Darcy, it was “clear” they needed to address concerns of tribal leaders who expressed concerns over the potential environmental impact of the Dakota Access Pipeline, and “the best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.”

“The consideration of alternative routes would be best accomplished through an Environmental Impact Statement with full public input and analysis,” the Army statement said.

Standing Rock Sioux chairman Dave Archambault II has issued a statement expressing his gratitude to the Obama administration for enabling the “historic decision” to re-reroute the pipeline.

“We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing,” he wrote.

Word from North Dakota Governor -

North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple reacted to the news of the changed route in a statement, calling the decision ‘‘a serious mistake’’ that “prolongs the serious problems” that law enforcement faces, as well as what he described as the dangerous situation experienced by those camping in cold winter conditions.

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said that the Department of Justice will continue to monitor the protest in North Dakota in the coming days, and is ready to ‘‘provide resources’’ for those who ‘‘can play a constructive role in easing tensions.’’

Standing Rock Sioux tribe also expressed its wish to heal the relationship with police following tensions and clashes during the standoff. While protests have been largely peaceful, confrontations with police have led to violent clashes in recent weeks.

So, 2016 isn't all horror and chaos. There has been much controversy in the past several months over the unethical choice to build an oil pipeline through Lake Oahe, a burial site for the Standing Rock Sioux. There were also concerns the pipeline would harm the drinking water nearby and damage other sites of significance to the Sioux Nation. Many came out of the woodwork to show their support to the people protesting, from US military veterans to the various peoples of the world. This controversy was made even more unusual by the major news media's silence up until now on the argument.

The below quote may have had something to do with the story gaining media attention.

Some 26 activists were injured in a November 20 confrontation when police fired water cannon in below-freezing temperatures. Rubber bullets and tear gas were also reportedly used against the water protectors on site.

Around 564 people were arrested during the protests, according to the Morton County Sheriff's Department.

So, small win for the little man? Just a short solution to a bigger problem? Can we not have something to be happy about with 2016 coming to an end? Discuss.

 

[enviousdominous]

It's a big victory as it pertains to the efforts of those who stood their ground, but they need to have more big victories in the future if they intend to prevent a pipeline from being installed beneath the Missouri river.

I lean in favor of the protestors and Standing Rock tribe. Mainly because a previous pipeline was rerouted for the same main reasons that the Standing Rock tribe wants this pipeline to be rerouted. If it wasn't a big deal then to reroute a pipeline amid water safety concerns, it shouldn't be this time either.

What I think is going on is that there's push-back among those who don't take the traditions of Native Americans very seriously, and they're personally offended by the notion that they won't be allowed to do whatever they feel like.

North Dakota only has one State Representative apparently, Rep. Kevin Cramer. This year he won re-election to the lower house by defeating a Standing Rock Sioux tribe member Chase Iron Eyes. Just saying; there seems to be a political tug of war at play between Native Americans and White people.

Rep. Cramer is not shy about explaining that this was a lawless occurrence in that the easement agreement had been stewed over for longer than should have been allowed, an interview with him can be listened to here where he seems to casually gloss over unlawful actions taken against protestors.

If the Standing Rock tribe wants to be able to savor this victory after January 20th, they need to work from now until then to put up as many road blocks as they can in regard to a potential reversal of this decision.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

What I think is going on is that there's push-back among those who don't take the traditions of Native Americans very seriously, and they're personally offended by the notion that they won't be allowed to do whatever they feel like.

That in and of itself is a HUGE reason for the conflicts between Native Americans, European settlers and their descendants. What it boils down to quite a bit is good old fashioned bigotry, in some instances, because so many Americans did, still do and will continue to do in the future that their belief in their own superiority trumps any position Native American tribes take on just about anything.

An unpopular truth is that the European ancestors of Americans, or I should say the ancestors of many of us, were ultimately an invading and conquering nation. It pisses some people off but the truth's the truth no matter how much it might hurt. I know that the media has painted a much different picture during the 20th century with half the John Wayne movies or the majority of other Western movies & TV shows; it's been done so successfully that many Americans believed and continue to believe that's how things really were. The most common image of Native Americans in popular American media during the 20th century was as half naked, warlike savages who killed white settlers left and right.

This pipeline would've gone through land they consider sacred and it should be rerouted if it's what the tribes want. Shit, we've taken damn near everything from them already so I'm not at all surprised that some people feel that this should be old hat to them by now.